I'm sorry to hear your cats aren't getting along. Sometimes older cats don't adjust to things as well as younger cats. I think maybe in this case, though, there may be another possible solution to try before getting rid of both kittens. First of all, it's pretty hard for any cat to accept not just one, but two new additions to the feline family, especially if he's always been a lone cat. Since you've said that Zelda is not very tolerant of your son and has already scratched him, I do think perhaps you should find a home for her. Also, cats tend to get along better in even numbers. They "pair off" when in groups, I've found. I've had experience with both pairs and "threesomes" in my home, and found that with three cats usually at least two of them are always squabbling with each other. I have three right now, and I can tell you it's pretty rare, though not unheard of, to see them all sleeping together in a heap, usually only two of them will sleep together. If the third does try to join in, a squabble usually results. Once Zelda is gone, you may find that your older cat will learn to be more accepting of Fu. You may have to "quarantine" Fu in a bedroom for a few days, as well, with food/water dishes and litter pan. Then you can try introducing the two cats slowly and in stages, first of all by putting Fu in a cat carrier for short periods, and letting your older cat approach at will so they can get used to each other through the bars of the carrier. This is what I've always done when I've introduced a new cat to the household. You'll also find they will sniff at each other under the bedroom door. Expose the two cats to each other for short periods each day with Fu in the carrier, until the older cat starts to show signs of accepting him more. Then, when they are together without the crate, supervise the first couple of hours - they WILL spit and possibly swat at each other, but eventually they will establish a "pecking order" amongst themselves. Older cats tend to accept young kittens a lot more readily than they will accept adult cats, so you may be surprised how quickly the two will learn to get along. Whatever you decide to do, I wish you good luck. Unfortunately my "cat house" is full, and I live up in Canada anyway, so I wouldn't be able to help you find a home for your kitten(s). All I can suggest for that, is many vets have bulletin boards to help find homes for pets, or you can try to find a no-kill shelter in your area which may accept your kittens. All the best, Patti

Yeah you have some good points. There arent any endangered species around my place right now. My big fat orange cat mostly lays around during the day. He's pretty lazy. If he feels the urge he will kill a mouse (which actually is good because we get mice inside and there is overpoplulation) BUT on the flip side not great in case he gets parasites from them from eating the fleas or what have you. He is on advantage so that always helps and is up to date on his shots. We dont leave him out at night though! That is dangerous because of racoons and other things. They just LOVE to roam and get into mischief at night. I could never leash my baby he would be completely and utterly traumatized by it. If you are going to keep them indoors then do it when they are little otherwise I think its cruel becuase cats do not like change and can be emotionally distressed by being leashed when they are older. My cat was emotionally distressed when we removed the kitchen chairs he always laid on!! seriously he moped around for like 3 months!!! They are too much. I definitely agree that its best for them to be inside but its definitely best to start that whent hey are young. Kitty Blessings!

EEEWWW!! Sister ate a chipmunk today. The only thing left was it's little tail. She toyed and played with it for about 30 minutes. I had to go back inside and when I came back out a little later---nothing but tail left!!! She and Smokey are only 5 months old, but they are super baby's. Both of them talk to me and my husband and 6 year old son think I'm nuts. Neither understand why I am a cat freak. I've always been this way. We also have a long haired mixed siamese that stays outside and he is absolutely beautiful! He's 7 years old and it took him a while to get used to the new babies, but I personally think that they've made him a little younger acting. Shanon

I used the Zodiac stuff before I used the Advantage, because I figured I wouldn't be able to afford the Advantage. I bought the drops that you put on their necks, and the flea spray to spray in their fur. It wasn't until after I bought and used the products, that I found out that NEITHER was a flea killer! They were just "insect growth regulators" which means they just stop the flea life cycle (ie stop eggs from hatching, or stop larvae from turning into adult fleas). So, the adult fleas were still left alive and kept on biting my cats. To add insult to injury, two of my cats got sick from the spray (which stank up the house to high heaven as well), and the other one lost the skin and most of the fur on the back of his neck where the drops were applied. On top of that, each tube of Zodiac drops cost me exactly the same as I ended up paying for each tube of the Advantage! The difference was that the Advantage got rid of the adult fleas, which were my immediate concern in the first place. In my opinion, insect growth regulators are fine to spray on carpets, furniture etc., to keep lurking flea eggs and larvae from hatching into adults that bite. But, I think that the primary concern is getting the biting adult fleas off of the cats, to spare them the itching and discomfort. Therefore it's best to apply something that kills fleas, directly on the cat.

I am new to this board, but I thought that I would give a little tip that someone gave to me when I was fighting this battle as well.....if like me you still have the vac**** with the bag (mine is an upright) I was told to start out with a fresh bag and then drop a flea collar into the bag (pcs of one if you do not want to waste a whole collar each time) and this will also kill the fleas that you vaccum up... Also sortta on the flea note....if your cat is scratching themselves (or even if they do not have fleas and are scratching you and your furniture) then there is a company that is called Soft Paws (www.softpaws.com) that has these rubber tips to put on the nails of your cats...they come in different sizes and colors and is safe for you and them....they so help when it comes to bath time....(I do not have stock in this product I just believe in it...lol) Ro